Coil handling mechanism



1960 A. J. SARKA 2,947,492

con. HANDLING MECHANISM Origihal Filed April 1a, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvENTo+ Albert J. Sorku @W 5 Aug. 1960 A. J. SARKA 2,947,492

COIL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed April 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Albert J. Sorku .drel.

nited States con. HANDLING MECHANISM Albert J. Sarka, Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor to Wean Equipment Corporation, Euclid, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 15 Claims. (Cl. 242-785) This invention relates to coil handling mechanism, particularly mechanism adapted to hold coils of strip material while the material is being uncoiled. For example, the invention may be embodied in an uncoiler for holding coils of strip steel while they are being uncoiled. This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 578,368, filed April 16, 1956, now abandoned.

While the invention may in some of its aspects be embodied in coil handling mechanism other than an uncoiler the invention will for purposes of explanation and illustration be described as embodied in an uncoiler for holding coils of strip material while the material is being drawn progressively from the coil, the coil turning to pay cit the material.

Prior to the present invention uncoilers have been of three types, the box type, the mandrel type and the cone type. Each of such types of uncoilers has recognized disadvantages. In the box type uncoiler the coil rests directly on supporting rollers which may scratch the surface of the strip. Also box type uncoilers are adapted only for operation at relatively low speeds. In mandrel type uncoilers the coil is supported on an overhung man- The overhung load necessitates a large diameter mandrel and a large heavy base for proper support. A .coil car is virtually a necessity for loading a mandrel type uncoiler. In cone type uncoilers opposed coaxial cones are provided which are relatively movable along a base toward and away from each other. The coil weight induces an overturning moment which necessitates rugged design for proper operation.

My uncoiler is of'a new type having advantages over all of the types of uncoilers previously known. My uncoiler has the advantage over box type uncoilers that during uncoiling the surface of the strip is not marred or scratched and my uncoiler is capable of operating at much higher speeds than box type uncoilers. My uncoiler has the advantage over mandrel type uncoilers that it supports a coil more directly, greatly reducing the design requirements for overhung loads. A coil car is not a necessity for loading but, of course, may be employed if desired. My uncoiler has the advantage over cone type uncoilers that the coil weight is supported more directly through opposed generally upright supporting members, greatly reducing the overturning moment and enabling simplification of the design and economy in construction.

My coil handling mechanism preferably comprises spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members together with anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common .axis and means carried by said members and projecting from the opposite faces thereof for entering the central 2,9414% Patented Aug. 2, 1960 2 opening of a coil are preferably removably carried by said members and adapted to be replaced on said members by similar means of different size for supporting difierent sized coils.

I also provide coil handling mechanism comprising opposed carrying devices mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance therebetween, means carried by said devices for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, a generally upright generally circular member carried by each carrying device and anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging said members and supporting them for turning movement.

The means for moving the coil supporting means relatively to one another may comprise screw means, connections between the screw means and at least one of the coil supporting means and means for rotating the screw means to relatively move the coil supporting means along their common generally horizontal axis.

I still further provide, in coil handling mechanism, first-and second opposed members adapted to engage a coil at the central opening of the coil to support the same, power driven means for moving the first of said members toward and away from the second thereof and manually driven means for moving the second of said members toward and away from the first thereof.

In another aspect my invention may comprise coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members together with spaced apart rollers forming an anti-friction saddle engaging said members at their peripheries and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and means carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil.

I find it desirable to employ opposed non-rotatable shafts mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis with means carried thereby and rotatably mounted thereon for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil.

1 also provide, in coil handling mechanism, a guide member having a face having a coil guiding portion adapted to engage the edge of a coil and a rail supporting member projecting from said face, the coil supporting member interfitting with the guide member so that the load imposed on the coil supporting member by the coil is transmitted through the interfitting portions of the coil supporting member and the guide member to the guide member.

Finally I provide, in coil handling mechanism, a generally upright generally circular member, an anti-friction saddle underlying said member and elongated generally parallel to the axis of said member supporting said mem her for rotation about its axis when said member is variously positioned along the saddle, means for moving said member generally along its axis and coil supporting means projecting from said member generally axially thereof.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a strip uncoiler;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the uncoiler shown in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a plan view partly in horizontal cross section of the uncoiler shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The uncoiler comprises a supporting and mounting structure including opposed uprights 2 connected at the bottom by transverse members 3 and also connected with a supporting portion 4 which carries means designated generally by reference numeral 5 for drawing strip progressively from a coil in the uncoiling of the strip. The means 5 may comprise pinch rolls, a leveler or other suitable means for drawing the strip forward from the coil and delivering it to any suitable apparatus to act upon the strip.

I provide opposed non-rotatable shafts 6 and 7 mounted in sleeve bearings 6a and 7a, respectively, in the respective uprights 2 for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance therebetween'. Bolted to the end of shaft 6 is a laterally projecting bar 8 carrying adjacent its outer end an internally threaded bushing 9. A screw 10 is threaded through the bushing 9 and has its inner end mounted in bearings 11 carried by the supporting structure. A hand wheel 12 is fixed to the outer end of the screw. Upon turning of the screw 10 the internally threaded bushing 9 is caused to move lengthwise of the screw carrying with it the bar 8 and the shaft 6, the latter moving axially in the sleeve bearing 6a which guides the shaft in its movement. Bolted to the end of the shaft 7 is a laterally projecting bar 13 carrying adjacent its outer end an internally threaded bushing 14. A screw 15 is threaded through the bushing 14 and has its inner end mounted in bearings 16 carried by the supporting structure. Intermediate the bearings 16 a sprocket 17 is fixed to the screw 15. A motor 18 is mounted in the supporting structure and has a sprocket 19 fixed to its shaft 20. A sprocket chain 21 extends about and meshes with the sprockets 17 and 19. Throughsuch mechanism the motor 18 turns the screw 15. Upon turning of the screw 15 the internallythreaded bushing 14 is caused to move lengthwise of the screw carrying with it the bar 13 and the shaft 7, the latter moving axially in the sleeve bearing 7a which guides the shaft in its movement. A gear 22 may be fastened to the outer end of the screw 15, being held in place by a cap nut 23. The gear 22 may mesh with a pinion 24 operating a limit switch whose function is to stop the motor 18 as the shaft 7 approaches the ends of its travel in the respective directions of movement.

By the mechanism above described the shafts 6 and 7 are independently movable along the common axis of the shafts. One of the shafts is hand operated and the other is motor operated so that the shafts may be moved by one operator located at a fixed station, i.e., adjacent the hand wheel 12. The operator can move the shaft 6 by hand and he can simultaneously or at will move the shaft 7 by manipulating switch means 18a at the operators station for controlling the motor 18. Alternatively a single screw with right and left hand threads may be used for moving both shafts in and out synchronously, and such screw may be operated either manually or by a motor. Such a screw would, of course, have to be disposed farther away from the common axis of the shafts 6 and 7 than are the screws 10 and 15 shown in Figure 3 since it would have to be positioned radially outside the coil supporting members and the coil carried thereby.

Each of the shafts 6 and 7 rotatably carries through bearing means 25 a generally upright generally circular member designated generally by reference numeral 26. Thus there are two opposed spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members 26 carried by the respective shafts 6 and 7 and each freely rotatable upon its shaft at a fixed location lengthwise of the shaft.

Each of the members 26 has a central hub portion 27 providing an opening 28. Adapted to be applied to each member 26 is a coil supporting member 29 having a central annular projecting portion 30 adapted to enter the opening 28 whereby the member 29 is centered upon the member 26. Also, when a downward load is brought to bear on the member 29 that load is largely taken by the member 26 through the interfitting of the annular projecting portion 30 and the hub portion 27. Each member 29 also has a peripheral flange portion 31 adapted to engage the face of the member 26 to assist in properly positioning the member 29 on the member 26. Each member 29 is also fastened in place to the corresponding member 26 by bolts 32 passing through the member 29 and threaded into the hub portion 27 of the member '26. The outer periphery of the flange portion 31 of each of the members 29 has its portion which is adjacent the face of the member 26 generally cylindrical and its portion which is relatively remote from the member 26 generally conical. Thus each member 29 is adapted through the generally conical portion thereof to easily enter the central opening of a coil and after entry to support the coil upon the generally cylindrical portion thereof. When a coil is positioned coaxially of shafts 6 and 7 and the members 26 are closed upon the coil, the members 29 enter the central opening in the coil and the faces of the members 26 lie against the opposed faces of the coil and serve as guides. The coil is supported upon the cylindrical portions of the members 29 and guided between the opposed faces of the members 26. As the strip is drawn progressively from the coil in the uncoiling operation, the members 26 turn upon the stationary shafts 6 and 7 by reason of the in terposition between the members 26 and the shafts of the bearings 25. Provision may be made for uncoiling coils having central openings of different sizes by replacing the members 29 with other members of different overall diameters but having annular projecting portions 30 of the same dimension to cooperate with the openings 28 in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 3. Members 29 of any size can thus be applied to the members 26 and bolted thereto by the bolts 32 to support coils having central openings of respectively corresponding diameter.

As will be apparent from the above description, the members 26 derive some support and guidance from the shafts 6 and 7. However, the principal support for the members 26 is derived from spaced apart rollers 33 forming an anti-friction saddle engaging the members 26 at their peripheries and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis. As shown in the drawings the rollers 33 are disposed approximately equal distances on opposite sides of a vertical plane containing the common axis of the shafts 6 and 7 and so that the members 26 while rotatively mounted on the shafts 6 and 7 bear upon the saddle made up of the rollers 33. As the members 26 turn while the strip is being uncoiled therefrom those members roll upon the rollers 33. The rollers 33' are idler rollers and are turned by the rolling action thereupon of the members 26. Thus the structure is unprecedentedly supported and balanced with the advantages over prior types of uncoilers which have been explained above.

Coils to be uncoiled may be positioned to be received by the members 29 by any suitable mechanism. I preferably provide a coil support positioned directly below the common axis of the shafts 6 and 7 and approximately half way between the uprights 2. The support comprises an upwardly facing generally saddle/shaped mem ber 34 mounted upon a vertically oriented supporting member 35 operated by any suitable mechanism such, for example, as a worm gear 36 turned by a worm 42 driven through a flexible coupling 37 by a shaft 38 of a motor 39. For example, the worm gear 36 may be internally threaded to mesh with threads on the outside of the supporting member 35, and the supporting member 35 may be held against turning by a rod 43 operating in a tube 44; thus the motor 39 raises or lowers the member 35 carrying the saddle 34, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor.

When a coil is to be uncoiled it is brought by any suitable means into position upon the saddle '34. By operation of the motor 39 the saddle 34 is raised to the tered the central opening of the coil the coil is supported upon the cylindrical portions of the members 29 and is guided by engagement or approximate engagement therewith at its side faces by the substantially flat opposing faces of the members 26. The saddle 34 is retracted downwardly. The leading end of the coil is threaded through the means 5 for drawing the ship from the coil when such means is set in operation. The strip is uncoiled and fed forward by the means 5, the coil and the members 26 being rotated by the drawing of the strip from the coil. The members 26 are supported by the rollers 33 as above described, the turning of the members 26 causing turning of the rollers as the strip is uncoiled. 1

Drag brake means may be and preferably are provided for counteracting the tendency of inertia to keep the uncoiler rotating when it is desired to stop rotation thereof. The drag brake means may .be of any conventional or other form. I have shown in the drawings a drag brake 46 applied to the member 26 which is mounted upon the shaft 6 and a drag bnake 41 applied to the member 26 which is mounted upon the shaft 7.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and means carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the sen tral opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil.

2. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis, means for relatively moving said members to alter at will the distance therebetween and means carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil.

3. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, anti-friction supporting means for said members generally underlying said members and directly engaging said members at their peripheries and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and means carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil.

4. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, antiafriction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis, means carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such Opening for supporting the coil, means adapted to engage I e a coil at its periphery to support the same and means controllably moving the last mentioned means to position the coil for entry of said projecting means into the central opening of the coil.

5. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and means removably carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, said last mentioned means being adapted to be replaced on said members by similar means of different size for supporting diiferent sized coils.

6. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, antifriction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and coil supports having generally cylindrical coil supporting surfaces carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil on such surfaces.

7. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced apart generally upright coaxial generally circular members, antifriction supporting means for said members directly engaging periphcral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and coil supports having generally cylindrical coil supporting surfaces removably carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil on such surfaces, the coil supports being adapted to be replaced on said members by similar coil supports of different size for supporting difierent sized coils.

8. Coil handling mechanism comprising opposed carrying devices mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance therebetween, means carried by said devices for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, a generally upright generally circular member carried by each carrying device and anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement.

9. Coil handling mechanism comprising opposed shafts mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance therebetween, means carried by said shafts for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, a generally upright generally circular member carried by each shaft and anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement.

10. Coil handling mechanism comprising opposed shafts mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance therebetween, means carried by said shafts and rotatably mounted thereon for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, a generally upright generally circular member connected with each of said first mentioned means and rotatable therewith relatively to said shafts and anti-friction supporting means for said members directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement.

11. Coil handling mechanism comprising opposed shafts mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance there between, means carried by said shafts and rotatably mounted thereon for entering the central opening of a coilfrom the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, a generally upright generally circular member connected with each of said first mentioned means and rotatable therewith relatively to said shafts, anti-friction supporting means for said members-directly engaging peripheral portions of said members and supporting them for turning movement, screw means, conneetions between the screw means and at least one of said shafts and means for rotating the screw means to relatively move said shafts along their common generally horizontal axis.

12. In coil handling mechanism, first and second opposed members adapted to engage a coil at the central opening of the coil to support the same, power driven means for moving the first of said members toward and away from the second thereof, manually driven means for moving the second of said members toward and away from the first thereof, an operating station, control means at the operating station for the power driven means and manually operable means also at the operating station for driving the manually driven means, so that the control means and the manually operable means may be operated simultaneously.

l3. Coil handling mechanism comprising spaced ap'art generally upright coaxial generally circular members, spaced apart rollers forming an anti-friction saddle engaging said members at their peripheries and supporting them for turning movement about their common axis and means carried by said members and projecting from the opposed faces thereof for entering the central opening of a coil from the respective axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil.

14. Coil handling mechanism comprising opposed non; rotatable shafts mounted for relative movement along a common generally horizontal axis to alter at will the distance therebetween, means carried by said shafts and rotatably mounted thereon for entering the central opening of a coil from the res ective'axial ends of such opening for supporting the coil, a generally upright generally circular member connected with each of said first mentioned means and rotatable therewith relatively to said shafts, spaced apart roller-s forming an anti-friction saddle engaging said members at their peripheries and supporting them for turning movement and separate means for respectively moving said shafts along their common generally horizontal axis.

15. In coil handling mechanism, a generally upright generally circular member, an anti-friction saddle underlying said member and elongated generally parallel to the axis of said member supporting said member for rotation about its axis when said member is variousl positioned along the saddle, means for moving said member generally along its axis and coil supporting means projecting from said member generally axially thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,068 Lamatsch Oct. 15, 1935 2,122,674 Wardle July 5, 1938 2,236,971 Iversen et al. Apr. 1, 1941 2,298,759 Fouse Oct. 13, 1942 2,678,776 Ruth -1 May 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0o 2347 492 August 2 1960 Albert J Serka It is herebjr certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 liue 46 for "rail" read coil (SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ha AXLINE Attesting Oflicer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

